Australians safe from Mortal Kombat

“RC” means “no sale”

The Australian federal government’s Classification Board has given a “refused classification” (RC) rating to the upcoming Mortal Kombat game, meaning it will not go on the shelves.

The decision has taken publisher Warners from villain to martyr in just 24 hours. Yesterday, the company was one of the plaintiffs being reviled for their loss in Village Roadshow & others vs iiNet; today, it’s a sainted and wronged champion of freedom.

And the government will find itself giving new impetus to Internet shopping, since punters are likely to head to overseas portals to get their fix of animated gore.

The Board cited limb dismemberment, decapitation and disembowelment among the reasons for its decision, also noting the “very detailed” realistic rendering and high body count (that is, the very things fans were hoping for).

Warner has the option to appeal the decision to the Classification Review Board, or modify the game for the Australian market.®